Classic Africa Safaris
Classic Africa Safaris specializes in operating professionally escorted tours and safaris in Uganda and Rwanda. As a ground operator, Classic offers an unbiased approach to designing the itinerary that is best for your guests. Classic works with a carefully selected variety of camps and lodges throughout the region and employs some of the area’s top guides.
Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda is a flourishing country of fertile and lush mountainous terrain. This small country bears the large title ‘Land of a Thousand Hills.’ Rwanda is home to the ‘Virungas’ – great old volcanoes that tower above the landscape to almost 15,000 feet and are covered with rich, green rainforest. A beautiful country to explore!
Uganda
Uganda
Uganda is described as ‘the pearl of Africa’ and it is easy to see why! Nestled in the Great Rift Valley, Uganda is situated where East African savannah meets West African jungle. This harmonious situation provides a very special and unique opportunities for safaris that can include primates and a vast array of game and birdlife.
Our Vehicles
Our Vehicles
Our vehicles are the backbone of the company. Each has been developed and built to a standard comparable to no other. We operate our own vehicle fabrication workshop where a team skilled workshop mechanics ensure your safari vehicle is in prime mechanical condition prior to it leaving for safari.
Community Tourism
Community Tourism
Classic Africa Safaris are ardent supporters of sustainable, community-based tourism. In addition to our wildlife safari offerings, we encourage travelers take the opportunity to engage in activities with local communities ranging from shared meals of local dishes to cultural walks and school visits
Our Guides
Our Guides
CAS guides are an extraordinary team of enthusiastic and motivated individuals. Our guides are well trained with years of on the road experience. All attend birding and wildlife courses to enhance an already substantial knowledge of local culture and history. To become a Classic guide is to become one of our family.
Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla Trekking
Just over 1,000 mountain gorillas remain on our fragile planet, of which 604 are located in the Virunga Massif (Rwanda/Uganda/ DRC) and 459 are located Uganda’s Bwindi NP. Setting off to track gorillas is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many. CAS helps you prepare your travelers every step of the way. Use this info to get started.
Why Classic Africa Safaris
CAS works exclusively with the travel trade (no consumer direct business) and operate comprehensive custom/FIT safaris in Uganda and Rwanda, plus fly-ins for gorilla extensions in both countries. They are strictly a DMC and do not own any properties, hence they provide an unbiased approach to designing the itinerary that is best for your clients. They specialize in tailor-made safaris for FITs and white-label small groups including operating many affinity groups for non-profit organizations, universities, zoological societies and more.
Meet Phil, Mel and the CAS team
Classic Africa Safaris founders & owners Phil Ward and Mel Gormley
CAS founders/owners Phil Ward and Mel Gormley have a collective 75 years of experience in the East Africa safari business. They founded Classic in 2001 and are based in Entebbe, Uganda and offer services in both Uganda and Rwanda. Want proof of their long history in the safari industry? Have a look at this Instagram post featuring a young Mel and this Instagram post featuring a young Phil! Mel heads the vehicle workshop and is based in Entebbe. Phil focuses on the accounts side these days and supports sales from time to time, as needed. Read More
Community and Conservation
Classic Africa Safaris are ardent supporters of eco-friendly, sustainable and community-based tourism. We are the first safari company in Uganda and Rwanda to become carbon neutral. We are also proud to support various programs including support of Entebbe Primary School and supporting our mountain porters. Read more about various other community and conservation programs which we support below. Read More
Travel Trade Resources
Classic Africa Safaris Sample Itineraries (log-in required)
Classic Africa Safaris Photos + Videos
Classic Africa Safaris Pre-Departure Info – Rwanda
Classic Africa Safaris Pre-Departure Info – Uganda
Classic Africa Safaris COVID Protocols + Requirements
Classic Africa Safaris Maps
